Discover the Automation Flywheel—a strategy that helps businesses build momentum by starting with small automation wins. Learn how to identify quick wins, scale efficiently, and create lasting impact.
Patrick Flanagan
May 15th, 2025
Big automation dreams don’t need big, risky beginnings. They need a smart, small start.
For many businesses, the idea of automation feels exciting—but daunting. The tech is there, the benefits are clear, but the where to begin? is what often stalls momentum. That’s where the Automation Flywheel comes in.
This blog will show you how to launch your automation journey with confidence by focusing on small, strategic wins—so you can scale sustainably, build internal trust, and create lasting transformation one project at a time.
Think of a mechanical flywheel: it takes some initial force to get moving, but once it spins, it builds its own momentum and becomes easier to turn over time. The Automation Flywheel follows that same principle.
Instead of launching large-scale automation all at once—a strategy prone to resistance, complexity, and risk—the flywheel starts with simple, focused automations that deliver immediate value. These early wins create a ripple effect: improved efficiency, stakeholder confidence, and internal enthusiasm that fuel the next wave of automation.
🧠 Key takeaway: Small, successful automations don’t just solve problems. They build energy for your next success.
Starting small isn’t about thinking small—it’s about building a strong foundation. Here's why it works:
Small projects are faster to test, cheaper to build, and easier to troubleshoot.
Quick wins like automating email responses or generating weekly reports show value fast—essential for getting leadership buy-in.
Incremental change is less intimidating. It gives teams time to adapt, learn, and contribute ideas.
Internal confidence and capabilities grow with each success, reducing long-term reliance on external consultants.
Each project reveals new insights, enabling smarter decisions and better automation design over time.
Not all automations are created equal. Your first projects should live in the High-Impact, Low-Effort zone—sometimes called “quick wins.”
Use this playbook to spot your best first steps:
Find tasks your team does daily or weekly: data entry, email follow-ups, report generation, invoice uploads.
Start with processes that follow clear rules and use structured data (like spreadsheets or forms).
Target pain points causing delays or frustration—solving them has instant impact.
Automated patient appointment reminders → Reduced no-shows by 22% → Built confidence to automate follow-ups and billing.
Started by auto-loading bank statements into their accounting system → Saved 15 hours/week → Now automating reconciliation and reporting.
Used Zapier to auto-post new products to social and email lists → Drove 10% more traffic → Inspired automated inventory management.
Began with automating permit renewal reminders → Improved citizen satisfaction → Led to automation of case tracking and document intake.
💬 Your first win is a signal. It tells your team: this works—and we can do more.
Small automations aren’t just efficient—they’re contagious.
As momentum builds, so does internal capability. Teams go from being automated to leading automation.
To keep the flywheel turning, report on what you’ve achieved. Use simple KPIs like:
Quantify wins and highlight human benefits: happier teams, faster service, fewer headaches.
Even small projects can stall without the right approach. Watch out for:
Once the wheel is spinning, it’s time to grow:
Plan your next wins. Map them to business goals. Build progressively.
Centralize automation knowledge, tools, and support.
Break bigger projects into sprints. Learn, adapt, and deliver continuously.
Upskill internal teams and enable “citizen automation” across departments.
Automation doesn’t begin with a system-wide overhaul—it begins with a single, strategic win. The Automation Flywheel gives you a roadmap to momentum: reduce risk, build confidence, and scale smarter.
Start with one impactful automation. Share the results. Watch the flywheel spin.
Let Univium help you find the right starting point and build a roadmap that scales with your business.
👉 Get in touch with us to book your free automation discovery session.
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